Put on a happy face: Lady Gaga clowns around for release of Applause

Lady Gaga wears white, blue and orange paint on her face as she becomes a pantomime clown for the cover of her new single.

The 27-year-old star wrapped her head in a black hairband and white sheet for the image, which she released on Twitter and illustrates the first track to be taken from her much-anticipated fourth studio album.

Applause will be released on August 19, with the album Artpop due out on November 11.

Geek chic: Gaga also tweeted this picture, perched on a chair made of computer components, in the run up to Applause
Accompanied by a link to the artwork, Gaga, who has been away from the scene since breaking a hip in February, tweeted: "Artwork for new single Applause in HQ."

Gaga unveiled the photograph, taken by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, on the website Women's Wear Daily.

In an accompanying interview she explains the inspiration behind the track and the artwork. She said of the image: "When I look at it, I see that there is a longing for the applause. I see that there is a void that is leaking on stage, that the performer is leaking."

Gaga revealed fans will be able to pre-order Artpop from iTunes on the same day Applause is released.

She also discussed the meaning of Artpop, saying: "I'm not defined by the same designer or defined by the same hair cut or defined by the same icon. The statement is that I'm not one icon; I'm every icon. I'm an icon that is made out of all the colours on the palette at every time. I have no restrictions."